Nutriearth opens first EU manufacturing site for sustainable mealworm-based vitamin D3
Key takeaways
- Nutriearth opened its first European factory in France to make sustainable vitamin D3 from edible mealworms.
- The patented, chemical-free process results in a product with a 76.8% lower carbon footprint and better absorption than traditional D3.
- The new site’s capacity can supply over 50 million people, reducing Europe’s reliance on imports.
Nutriearth has inaugurated its first commercial manufacturing site for producing natural and sustainable vitamin D3 from an edible insect in Carvin, France. The company’s patented, biomimetic technology aims to set new standards for effectiveness, sustainability, and safety in the field.
Backed by more than 60 global patents, Nutriearth’s breakthrough lies in its unique processing method of the nutritious Tenebrio molitor (mealworm), which has been consumed in various cultures for thousands of years.
When comparing mealworm-sourced vitamin D3 to the conventional lanolin-derived option, an independent Life Cycle Assessment found it is 76.8% lower in greenhouse gas emissions with an eightfold lower overall environmental impact.
Scientific studies have shown Nutriearth’s vitamin D3 is absorbed up to three times better than vitamin D3 derived from lanolin and twice as well as that from lichen, which are typically produced through multi-step chemical processes such as extraction and purification using solvents.
“With this new facility, Nutriearth broadens its reach and becomes a major actor in the European and global vitamin D3 market,” says Jeremy Burks, CEO of Nutriearth.
“Our method delivers the world’s only natural, sustainable, and highly bioavailable vitamin D3, setting new standards for human nutrition and planetary health. The Carvin site has the capacity to cover the vitamin D3 needs of over 50 million people, supporting healthier lives throughout Europe and around the globe.”
Patented biomimetic process
Nutriearth’s innovation is a patented biomimetic process that mimics the human body’s own synthesis of vitamin D3. The company exposes its mealworm flour — naturally rich in a vitamin D3 precursor identical to the one found in human skin — to a specific type of light.
This process triggers a natural conversion into bioactive, highly absorbable vitamin D3, completely without chemical extraction, solvents, or additives.
Nutriearth’s portfolio includes N-utra functional flour, which was recently authorized by the European Commission in February, opening new doors for product innovation across Europe. This ingredient enriches everyday food products, from bread and pasta to cookies and energy bars.
Nutra-oil, Nutriearth’s potent, vitamin D3-rich ingredient for dietary supplements, is already approved for use in supplements and functional foods in North America. It is currently being evaluated in Europe and slated for approval in 2026.
Both formats deliver naturally sourced vitamin D3, while the N-utra functional flour also provides proteins, B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants derived wholly from Tenebrio molitor.
New site capabilities
Developed following a €7.45 million (US$8.7 million) fundraising round, Nutriearth’s Carvin site integrates Nutriearth’s R&D, quality, and production operations under pharmaceutical-grade principles to guarantee “exceptional quality, hygiene and traceability.”
The facility’s layout follows “strict cleanroom standards,” with independent and physically separated production lines for Nutriearth’s two vitamin D3 product formats.
The site produces Nutriearth’s natural vitamin D3 in oil and powder forms, supplying global markets for pet food, animal feed, functional foods, and nutraceuticals. All ingredients are manufactured entirely on-site.
The proximity of the site to EU producers and consumers promises a locally manufactured, sustainable supply of vitamin D3, reducing dependency on imports from China and India, which currently account for 99.9% of the global market.
“With this new site in Carvin, we are sending a strong message: Hauts-de-France is a land of innovation and sustainable industrialization. This too is what Hauts-de-France stands for — a Region that is transforming itself,” says Philippe Beauchamps, VP of the Hauts-de-France Region in charge of business relations, employment, and vocational training.
Nutriearth is supported by a network of investors and institutional partners, including Demeter Investment Managers, Captech Santé, Rev3 Capital, Nord Capital, Nord France Amorçage, and BPI France.
